State Bar of California’s Conflict of Interest Code

PLEASE
NOTE: Publication for public comment is not, and shall not, be construed as a
recommendation or approval by the Board of Trustees of the materials published

SUBJECT:

State Bar of California’s Conflict of Interest Code for Designated Employees, Proposed Revisions to List of Designated Employees

DISCUSSION:

Background
The Political Reform Act (“PRA”) requires state and local government agencies, such as the State Bar, to adopt and promulgate conflict of interest codes. The State Bar is also subject to the Conflict of Interest standards mandated by Business and Professions Code § 6035-6038. These sections conform to the definitions specified in Government Code § 87103.*

* The PRA requires agencies to identify areas where persons who act on the agency’s behalf must disqualify themselves from making decisions because of a financial conflict of interest. The PRA requires that agencies designate employees who must report particular financial interests because they make or participate in making decisions that are likely to have an impact on those financial interests. The State Bar identifies these employees and their reporting requirements on the list of designated employee positions (Appendix A). The disclosure categories, defined in the code, indicate the subject matter areas in which the designated employees are authorized to make decisions and may be influenced by financial interests requiring disclosure under the code.

Discussion/Proposal

At its Nov. 19, 2015 meeting, the Board Executive Committee authorized a 30-day public comment period for the State Bar’s Conflict of Interest Code and List of Designated Employees. The agenda item and attachments linked below described the proposal in detail.

ATTACHMENTS:

Agenda Item, State Bar of California’s Conflict of Interest Code for Designated Employees, Proposed Revisions to List of Designated Employees – Request for Public Comment